What’s LiFi?
LiFi, which uses light waves rather than the radio-waves utilized by WiFi, may be the biggest advance in data transmission since wireless options appeared on the market. Visible communications is a low-energy, highly secure method to transfer data through the air.
How LiFi Works
LiFi uses an LED light that flickers at a rate too fast to be detected by the human eye (which translates it as a solid “on” light), these flickers are projected and detected to send and receive data packets without wires and with 10,000 times the available bandwidth of traditional WiFi!
Why You Might Want LiFi
Although it doesn’t require line of sight, the LiFi is stopped by solid objects such as walls — so your neighbors can’t try to hack your LiFi from their house! It also offers the following advantages:
- Lower Cost
- Requires Fewer Components
- Extremely Low Energy Use
- Higher Speeds Than WiFi
- Safer for Humans and Animals
- Won’t Conflict or Interfere with Other Electronic Devices (There’s no electromagnetic interference.)
How It Will Be Used
From standard “in house” and “in office” data transfer to specialized applications like:
- Underwater applications which absorb radio signals too much can benefit from the use of light signals
- Mines and Petrochemical Plants where Electromagnetic fields might be dangerous
- Medical Applications where WiFi would or could interfere with essential equipment
- Toys – safe interactivity between toys with low power requirements for longer battery life
- Turning signs, streetlights, even vehicle headlights into data hubs
- Offload excess data requirements of cellular networks to offer relief in bottleneck areas
Although it’s a relatively new technology, you can expect to see it grow in the near future.